Brooker

Sawmilling in Woodford from mid 1940’s to mid 1950’s

From Edgar Brooker, son of Albert Brooker

Albert ‘Nugget’ Brooker had a case sawmill at 7 Hendy Street, Woodford Qld where he cut timber mainly for banana and pineapple cases. The flooded gum logs were mostly sourced from the farms of Wally Campbell and Neil Herps.

Edgar Brooker started working in his father’s mill at the age of 14 when he left school and worked there till he was about 21. Edgar, also known as ‘Nugget’, is now 81 years of age. Work was plentiful in the 1940’s and 50’s, and Edgar stated that in those days every young man could always get a start in a mill, at the butter factory in Woodford, or at Woodford Motors.

From Ron Trim, local historian

During the years of the Second World War, Albert ‘Nugget’ Brooker set up a case mill in Hendy Street, Woodford Qld, but at that time timber supplies became so short that builders from Brisbane asked Nugget if he could supply them with any species of timber. There was no shortage of white gum in the Forestry reserves, so Nugget used that, making sure it was cut correctly, and when it was strapped tight, it did the job. The mill was driven by an old MacDonald diesel engine. The staff of the sawmill comprised Nugget, his son Edgar, and Lionel Maroski.